Kanye West

The man with a "passion for flashing" goes on a "living spree." Much of the self-interrogation and folksy, familial charm of previous albums have disappeared, replaced by glittering shards "of the good life" backed by West's newfound love for synths and Steely Dan. "I don't see why I need a stylist when I shop so much I could speak Italian," he raps on "Champion," while "Everything I Am" filters faux-ironic arrogance through goofy lines for effective self-definition. Kanye serves great pop songs that fit well together, and this is fun and conceptually tight -- if thematically slight.